Sophia seemed to notice Gladys' gaze beside her, and immediately smiled at her, acting as if everything was normal.

"Her Highness Katarina!"

"Her Highness Katarina!"

As soon as Caterina showed her face in the banquet hall, everyone immediately surrounded her, and now she, with the power in her hands, was more dazzling than any star.

Especially when she and Swain stood together, the two most powerful people in the empire were almost in the form of one, and the relationship between them was enough to make many people think about it.

Caterina smiled, because there were so many people around, Princess Celestia could only greet the people who came close. Sven, on the other hand, was even more aloof, he didn't even bother with the men, his arrogant gaze just searching for his sister in the crowd.

After seeing Sophia's figure, Sven showed a slight softer look.

Almost everyone noticed the change in his expression, and at the same time turned their gaze away.

Sophia raised her glass and greeted her brother generously.

Caterina and Swain walked to the center of the ballroom, surrounded by guests who had made room for them. Seeing that it was almost over, Sven leaned down, kissed the back of Katerina's hand, and then stepped back as well.

Now Caterina was left alone in the midst of everyone.

However, she is not nervous at all, as a princess of the royal family, she has long been accustomed to accepting the attention of others, not to mention, with her current status, she will only enjoy this feeling more.

She took Franz's timely hand-over speech, and a smile was ready to face her gaze.

"Subjects, who are still firmly supporting the Empire and the House of Kiang in these difficult times, as well as those friends and international friends who have come to our aid with admirable faith, please allow me to express my sincerest thanks and greetings to you on behalf of His Majesty Alexander, who was unfortunately wounded. ”

After Caterina finished her opening speech, she paused for a moment, and the people in the banquet hall immediately responded with a round of applause.

"At this grim time, perhaps the most perilous and inevitable in the history of the Empire, I send this message to each and every one of you with the deepest heart, whether you are at home or abroad, whether your homeland is at war or threatened with war. ”

Caterina pursed her lips slightly, and she paused, raising her eyes to look around at the people surrounding her.

The guests who listened to the speech also looked a little more solemn, and they felt something special in Caterina's words, as if this time the Grand Duke was not talking about the usual meaning of the topic, but some real voice from the heart of Caterina.

"For the Empire and most of us, this is the second war in which we have been engaged. Since the Silesian War 10 years ago, my Government has always adhered to the principle of the defence of peace and has done its utmost to resolve international disputes by peaceful means. ”

Some of the foreign guests who participated in this banquet couldn't help muttering a few times, this sentence made them really disagree, but they could only keep such a voice in their hearts, and naturally they would not say it.

However, this is futile and pointless. ”

Celestia's sudden turn of events stunned all those who were still muttering just now.

"The traitors to the Empire, led by Michel VII, forced us to face war, and they are now being punished as they deserve. However, the flames of war have not been extinguished, and the invasion of the Mahdia Empire on the Badajoz Peninsula will set off a storm that threatens the whole world, and we cannot allow one country, one powerful country, to unscrupulously bully other countries, occupy the territory of other countries, slaughter other peoples, and threaten the freedom and independence of other countries with force. The actions of the Mahdia Empire in the territory of the Kingdom of León are completely contrary to the morality that human civilization should observe, and their actions, stripped of the disguise of religion and ethnicity, are nothing more than a primitive worship of violence, a kind of atrocity that is divorced from morality, and no one with a conscience can sit idly by. If this injustice is allowed to run rampant and spread, then the people of the whole world will be shrouded in shadows, bound by the fear of violence, where the hope of freedom, security, peace and equality will come to an end for all nations, and human civilization will be destroyed!"

"This injustice comes not only from the wars that have come before us, but also from the wars that have been carried by the conspirators with treacherous intentions and are waiting for their time. Therefore, I am not afraid of danger, nor will the Empire be afraid of threats, and we will unswervingly pay for all requests for help, whether it is the wails of the Leonites or the sighs of the Silesians, we will not ignore them!"

Almost everyone was frightened, and in this sense, it seemed that Caterina was ready to fight Hadrian.

"Therefore, while my country longs for peace as much as the rest of the peoples of the world, at this time we must do something to challenge this injustice and restore peace and justice to the world! For the sake of world peace and justice, for the sake of all that we hold dear, we must plunge into this war, even if we bear the scars of rebellion and civil war, even if we are still immersed in the grief of the death of our relatives and friends, for the sake of tomorrow, I ask all the subjects of the Empire, whether they are the civilians waiting for help on the frontiers or the nobles who are participating in this feast, I ask you to be ready with the strongest determination to face the coming war. ”

Caterina swept over the crowd with an extremely stern gaze, and many of the nobles were a little uncomfortable in her gaze, but out of etiquette, they still maintained solemn countenances, looking directly into the eyes of the Celestial Princess.

"It's a huge task. We will face dark years, the battlefield will no longer be confined to the smoke, we will pray to the Lord with all our hearts, and we will fight for our faith and justice. As long as we are firm in our convictions and have the consciousness to sacrifice for the future at any time, I firmly believe that with the blessing of the Lord, ......"

Caterina pursed her lips, her eyes filled with sorrow and determination.

"Justice will prevail!"

"For the sake of this noble goal, I ask the people of my kingdom and abroad to take this faith to heart. ”

"Before the judgment of time, I ask my people to remain calm and united. ”

"I have nothing but blood, hard work, sweat ......"

And tears, dedicated to everyone. ”

Caterina finished the last sentence and exhaled deeply.

The banquet hall was silent for a minute, and Caterina turned her gaze back to the crowd, the nobles still slightly stunned.

Swain was the first to applaud, his applause slow, but the slow rhythm reflected his firmness. Sven looked at Caterina with approval in his eyes, maybe the current Caterina is already a mature ruler that Swain also recognizes.

Then, there was also warm applause among the foreign guests, and the Silesian minister blushed and clapped desperately, his eyes were red, and tears were faintly pouring out of the corners of his eyes.

Caterina's statement on the Silesian question was almost a gospel of salvation for a desperate Silesia, and the Silesian Minister was almost moved by this speech beyond words.

Gradually, the others also applauded, and in the end, the entire banquet hall was occupied by thunderous applause, and the warm and passionate atmosphere infected everyone.

Sven walked over to Katerina, and although there was still no expression on his face, there was a slight tenderness in his eyes.

"Excellent speech, Your Highness. He slowly knelt down on one knee, his injured leg half-touching the ground, "I am willing to dedicate my loyalty to you." ”

Caterina held out her hand with a solemn expression, and Swain put her hand on it.

She turned to look at the others in the ballroom.

The nobles of these imperial capitals couldn't help but look at each other, and finally knelt down in unison.

Caterina nodded in satisfaction, then took the glass that Franz handed her and raised her glass in the direction of the foreign guest.

"For the friendship between our countries. ”

"For the prosperity of the Siliul Empire, for the long-term rule of the Giang family!"

The Silesian minister was the first to respond, shouting praises to the Empire.

With Caterina's toast, the atmosphere in the ballroom gradually returned to its original appearance, and people chatted with each other about the elegance and vulgarity, as if the war that Caterina had just spoken about would not come.

And Gladys and Elaine also witnessed everything, and Elaine didn't even come back to her senses until this point, completely impressed by Katarina's temperament.

Gladys saw more, and from time to time she looked at Swain standing next to Caterina and Sophia beside her, and felt something faintly.

"Her Royal Highness the Princess is so handsome!" Elaine said excitedly to Sophia and Gladys, "Have you seen it, Her Royal Highness Caterina just looked at her, and she scared so many nobles, oh my God, she is so powerful!"

Sophia pursed her lips and smiled, and from this expression, Gladys couldn't tell what she was thinking.

"However, in that case......," Gladys glanced in the direction of Caterina and Swain with some concern, "it means that the Empire is going to war with both Mahdia and Hadrian......, right? When will such a war be the end?"

"Don't worry!" Elaine didn't worry about this at all, she patted Gladys's thin shoulder and grinned, "Those guys are definitely not opponents of the Empire, seeing Her Royal Highness Katarina, don't you have confidence?"

"It's not a matter of faith...... Gladys sighed helplessly, "Really, have you figured out the seriousness of the matter......

Muttering quietly, Geatis looked at Sophia, and in the smile on her face, Geatis still couldn't find any expression that could reflect her emotions.

"What do you think, Sophia?" Gladys couldn't help but ask the question buried in her heart, she really wanted to know what Sophia thought, what kind of opinion Sophia had about Princess Celestia, about Swain, this was a question that lingered in Gladys's heart.

Sophia smiled at Glatis, her smile was no different from her usual smile, but Gretis inexplicably felt that the smile was a little fake.

"My brother's decision is naturally correct, I can't help him anyway, as long as I support him. ”

Gladys was stunned for a moment, then lowered his head and stopped talking.

And in the moment of her silence, Sven walked over.

"It's an honor to see both of you again. He nodded to Gladys and Elaine, "Miss Rank, and ......."

Sven frowned, as if remembering for a moment.

"Miss Edmod. ”

Swain finally remembered Elaine's name, and he took Elaine's hand and gently asked on his middle finger.

Elaine smiled a little stiffly, in front of Swain, she inexplicably felt extremely nervous, and when she was kissed on the hand, the feeling was different from Alans, like a cold touch like a harsh winter, and even made Elaine shiver.